Stephen C. Foster State Park

JaxTal Adventure Club's Stephen C. Foster State Park Camping Report

Okefenokee. A funny and strange sounding name to our ears. To the Timucuan Indians, who named it, it was the "Land of Trembling Earth", a place of lakes, peat bogs, marshes, expansive cypress trees and abundant wildlife, and most noted for being a home to that mysteriously ancient reptile, the alligator. The Okefenokee swamp is a national wildlife refuge created in 1936 that covers over 400,000 acres. The refuge land mass consist of varied terrain, ranging from dry upland forests of pines, saw palmettos and oaks to open wetlands, boggy grassy prairies, blacken flowing water and mossy hammocks.

Stephen C. Foster State Park is located inside the refuge on the westerly side of the swamp.



The main purpose of this trip was to test out some new tents, sleeping bags and pad and to enjoy the beautiful abundant nature and relax around a toasty campfire. We each departed to the park on Friday afternoon in rain showers from a passing cold front. Fortunately, once arriving at the park the rain stopped, allowing us unhindered camp setup, but under overcast skies with 60 degrees temperature. Entering the park, we were greeted with three hawks, and at least eight deer feeding on the fall foliage. The site of this wildlife whet our appetites to see more the park had to offer, but since the darkness was soon to fall, we would have to wait until the morning to go exploring the park.

The next morning was cold and nippy, requiring jackets and a regenerated glowing fire. After the typical oatmeal breakfast we practiced tying knots, gathered more firewood then proceed to hike the two trails in the park. The first one is pretty nondescript; a mowed swath in the flatlands while the other is more picturesque composed of a boardwalk in the more typical swamplands.

As night fall approached, we were slightly disappointed to sense that the temperature was not falling as much as we desired, even to the point that a few mosquitoes dared showed their proboscis.

As morning broke, we packed up, cleaned up the camp and heading home, with new found knowledge and skill.